Exhausted hospital staff caring for more Covid patients in Northamptonshire amid 'fake news' claims by virus deniers

Exhausted hospital staff caring for more Covid patients in Northamptonshire amid 'fake news' claims by virus deniers Exhausted front line NHS staff are battling on dealing with the impact of Covid-19 in Northamptonshire...amid a wave of claims of "disinformation" and "grossly misleading figures" on social media. Northamptonshire Telegraph

See also:

• Seven-month police probe into Covid-hit Kettering care home ends with 'no further action' Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Up to 1 in 5 UK care home workers could be refusing a Covid vaccine
• Recognise your local Covid heroes on the university of Northampton’s Power Tower
• Police warn youngsters as vulnerable woman raises concerns about Covid 'violations' at Northampton skatepark
• Popular skatepark in Northampton set to be fenced off in bid to prevent Covid spread
• Northamptonshire's care homes see 300 per cent rise in Covid cases and a dozen deaths in a week Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Kettering care home leads the way in Covid vaccination drive Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Talking can spread coronavirus as much as coughing - according to a new study Northamptonshire Telegraph

New scheme launched to support domestic abuse victims

New scheme launched to support domestic abuse victims The Home Office is implementing a new scheme to help victims of domestic abuse access support safely, and is encouraging community pharmacy teams to get involved.

The ‘Ask for ANI’ scheme has been developed by the Home Office to provide a simple and discreet way for victims to signal to pharmacy staff that they need help accessing support from the police or other domestic abuse support services. Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee

Working for babies: lockdown lessons from local systems

Working for babies: lockdown lessons from local systemsThis report summarises the impacts on babies of Covid-19 and the Spring 2020 national lockdown. The report also explores how local systems responded to the challenges presented by Covid-19. It seeks to understand the factors which have shaped the response by services which support babies and their families. Most importantly, the report seeks to ensure that lessons are learned for the future of service provision for this age group. First 1001 Days Movement 

Brexit and beyond

Brexit and beyond Brexit is done. The formal negotiations are over — even though the Trade and Cooperation Agreement paves the way to many further negotiations between the UK and the European Union. Understanding what Brexit means in practice is just beginning. The contributions in this report underline the scale and scope of the agenda that confronts the United Kingdom and is meant as a guide to the issues that will loom large of the months and years to come. It includes sections on: 'Health' on pages 28-29, and 'Social care' on pages 40-41. UK in a Changing Europe 

Publicly funded hospital care: expenditure growth and its determinants

Publicly funded hospital care: expenditure growth and its determinants Understanding the drivers of growth in health care expenditure is crucial for forecasting future health care requirements and for the efficient use of resources. This report considers total hospital admitted care expenditure in England between 2009/10 and 2016/17. Centre for Health Economics

More than 4 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK

More than 4 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK More than 4 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of the largest vaccination programme in British history. Department of Health and Social Care 

See also:

• Supply chain workers crucial to vaccination programme to receive jabs Department of Health and Social Care
• Social care sector to receive £269 million to boost staffing levels and testing Department of Health and Social Care
• #CovidEmergency NHS Employers
• Guidance: Daily contact testing in schools: statement from PHE and NHS TT about next steps Public Health England

Covid: UK records new daily high of 1,610 deaths

Covid: UK records new daily high of 1,610 deaths A further 1,610 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid test - the biggest figure reported in a single day since the pandemic began.

It means the total number of deaths by that measure is now above 90,000.

A total of 4,266,577 people have now received the first dose of a vaccine, according to the latest government figures. BBC News

See also:

• Covid: Positive antibody tests doubled since autumn BBC News
• Rollout of daily testing of close contacts paused in schools BBC News
• Birmingham and Nottinghamshire trusts offer 24-hour Covid vaccines BBC News
• Covid: Hospital children's unit moved to free up adult beds BBC News
• Schools may reopen region by region, says medical adviser BBC News
• Covid: 'Sharp drop' in heart-attack hospital admissions BBC News
• Covid smear-test delays prompt calls for home HPV tests BBC News
• Likelihood of severe and long Covid may be established soon after infection The Daily Mail
• 54 cases of South African variant have now been spotted in Britain The Daily Mail
• Don't hug your grandchildren yet, scientists warn amid fears vaccinated will abandon rules The Daily Telegraph
• GPs raise alarm over low uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in BAME patients GPonline
• For Britain's vaccination success, we must thank our universal healthcare system The Guardian
• Rapid coronavirus testing scheme ‘may increase rather than decrease’ cases in schools, experts warn The Independent
• New 'iron lung' to help NHS patients breathe could be ready this year The Independent
• Covid-related deaths up by 46% in England’s care homes, figures show The Independent
• Pfizer vaccine likely to provide protection against UK coronavirus variant, new research shows The Independent
• COVID-19: Health Secretary Matt Hancock self-isolating after being 'pinged' by NHS app Sky News

Motor neurone disease: Edinburgh scientists reveal breakthrough

Motor neurone disease: Edinburgh scientists reveal breakthrough Scientists are a step closer to being able to reverse the damage caused by motor neurone disease (MND).

University of Edinburgh experts have found a problem with MND patients' nerve cells which could be repaired by repurposing drugs approved for other diseases. BBC News

Tory MPs rip out NHS protections from trade bill

Tory MPs rip out NHS protections from trade bill Conservative MPs have ripped out an amendment to the government's trade bill to prevent the NHS being sold off or undermined by the government's trade deals with other countries.

The House of Lords had last month inserted a clause banning any agreement that “undermines or restricts” the UK's ability to provide “a comprehensive publicly funded health service free at the point of delivery”.

The amendment also restricted “the sale of patient data” and the government's ability to control drug prices. The Independent

Bullying on NHS maternity units and poor training a risk to safety, MPs told

Bullying on NHS maternity units and poor training a risk to safety, MPs told Doctors and midwives working in maternity services face higher levels of bullying than any other part of the NHS, MPs have been told.

According to the General Medical Council, trainee doctors in maternity services report more than twice the level of bullying seen in the rest of the NHS while the Nursing and Midwifery Council said midwives were also more likely to be bullied. The Independent

Gender identity development service for children rated inadequate

Gender identity development service for children rated inadequate The UK’s main gender identity development service for children is leaving thousands of vulnerable young people at risk of self-harm as they wait years for their first appointment, according to a highly critical report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) took immediate enforcement action against the Tavistock and Portman NHS foundation trust when it completed the inspection in November, which rated the service overall “inadequate” and highlighted overwhelming caseloads, deficient record-keeping and poor leadership. The Guardian

• Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust Gender Identity Service inspection report Care Quality Commission
• NHS child gender clinic rated 'inadequate' by inspectors BBC News